Electric vehicle reliability equals ICE models – new study
A new study into electric vehicle reliability has debunked the myth that EVs do not compare favourably to petrol and diesel equivalents.
According to a report published by Nature Energy, based on analysis from the University of Birmingham, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), University of California San Diego, and University of Bern in Switzerland, electric vehicles have an average lifespan of 18.4 years and 124,000 miles.
The study examined data from nearly 300 million UK Ministry of Transport (MOT) test records spanning from 2005 to 2022.
It found that early EV models were less reliable than ICE vehicles, but developments in technology have closed the reliability gap with a 12% fall in the likelihood of EV failures for each year of production.
Co-author of the research, Robert Elliott, Professor of Economics at the University of Birmingham, said:
“BEVs offer significant environmental benefits, especially as Europe switches to a more renewable energy mix. Despite higher initial emissions from production, a long-lasting electric vehicle can quickly offset its carbon footprint, contributing to the fight against climate change – making them a more sustainable long-term option.”
Fellow co-author Dr Viet Nguyen-Tien, from the LSE, added:
“Our findings provide critical insights into the lifespan and environmental impact of electric vehicles. No longer just a niche option, BEVs are a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional vehicles – a significant step towards achieving a net-zero carbon future.”
